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Read MoreWind of the West Texas Variety
One of the realities of living in the Texas Panhandle is the ability to not become agitated by the wind. There are some days the grit and gusts can drive you mad, but then there are those unbearably hot summer days when you can count on that cool breeze...
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Read MoreLooking for Your Next Read?
Book reviews for a few gems I discovered this summer. True Life Memoir MORE THAN EVERYWHERE by Vanessa G. Foster I sat next to Vanessa at a writers dinner on the campus of WTAMU in Canyon, Texas this past summer. As with most gatherings that involve writers, the question...
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Read MoreInspiration from a Flint Point
I found inspiration from an Indian point dating back to the Antelope Creek People who occupied the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles between 1150 AD and 1450 AD. The utilized the quarry at Alibates for over three hundred years, trading the flint with other tribes. On our ranch in the...
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Read MoreCrow Country & Chief Plenty Coups
“Thank you for coming to Crow country. The land you are standing on is mixed with Crow blood.” ALDEN BIG MAN JR. I’m blogging about the Western Writers of America conference held in Billings and the field trip opportunities. I hopped on a bus and enjoyed a sack lunch...
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Read MoreWWA Panel: Returning Buffalo to the Plains
WWA Panel: Returning Buffalo to the Plains The Western Writers of America conference in Billings, Montana this year offered several informative panels on various topics. “Returning Buffalo to the Plains” was the topic, moderated by Bill Markley, with Kathleen O’Neal Gear, archaeologist and historian, along with her husband W....
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Read MoreWWA & Women Writing the West
Women Writing the West Meet-Up in Billings, Montana! Through the Yahoo group, I posted an invite to members of Women Writing the West for a possible meet up for those who might be attending the Western Writers of America conference. We exchanged cell phone numbers, and one member responded...
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Read MoreWWA Panels: Personifying Longmire
The Western Writers of America held their annual meeting in Billings, Montana in June of this year. Throughout the four day conference, attendees could choose between discussion panels and field trips covering a wide variety of interesting topics. In this blog post, I’m reviewing the panel which focused on...
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Read MoreLibraries Rock!
Libraries Rock is the theme for this year at libraries all across the country. The rescue horses, their trainers, and I are spending the summer on book tour to celebrate my two new releases: FLASH THE STORY OF ME and TAZ & THE BIG FLAPPY THING. Our Mission Introduce...
About Natalie Bright
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Prairie Purview
Spring Branding on a Texas Ranch
Why Brand? Every spring on cattle ranches throughout rural areas, cowboys and cowgirls gather the cow/calf operation herds for branding. A few have modernized the process with the addition of four-wheelers and electric squeeze chutes, while others follow the same age old traditions practiced for over 150 years. Using ranch-trained horses, cowboys and cowgirls push the herd to a set of working pens. In the midst of bawling calves and answered calls from their mommas, ground crews are amazingly fast and efficient to minimize the stress on the calf. Some people claim that branding of livestock is a cruel practice, but it is necessary to establish ownership. The practice was introduced to North America by Cortes when he landed at Veracruz in 1519 with a few head of Andalusian cattle. He branded Three Christian Crosses on his small herd. Today, the only thing separating our calves from the neighbors herd is a few strands of barbed wire, and they do find ways to get lost on the other side. Bulls tend to have of mind of their own, and so do cattle rustlers with bolt cutters. Fences and pad-locked gates aren’t enough. The new beef crop is too valuable and branding is still the most accurate and humane way to identify the livestock that graze...
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Book Birthday Bash
It’s a Book Birthday Party and you’re invited! Help me celebrate two new books in my Rescue Animal Series. Friday, June 1 10:00 AM to Noon Canyon Area Library 1501 3rd Avenue Canyon, Texas It’s time to sign up for Summer Reading! Now is your chance to buy a copy of the book, meet the rescue horses and their trainers, and get an autograph from all of us! Posters, stickers, bookmarks, balloons, cookies, juice, and photo ops. Please help us raise awareness about the people who work to give animals a second chance. Co-Sponsors: Canyon Area Library Burrowing Owl Books, on the Square in Canyon...
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More Rescue Animals!
These two will gallop right into your heart! I love stories with happy endings. One of the reasons I felt inspired to write the Rescue Animal Series is to shed light on a group of people who are extremely generous and dedicated to giving animals a second chance. My family brought home two puppies from SPCA of Amarillo, but our efforts does not come close to the sacrifices of those who care for rescue horses. The work and expense...
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Looking for a Great Book?
Book Reviews: Here’s my recommended reads from the past several months. So many new discoveries and a few old favorites. Enjoy! For Fans of Horror ONE MURDEROUS WEEK by Nandy Ekle Congratulations to one of my writing critique partners, Nandy Ekle, who has just released a collection of short stories. This thrilling anthology is full of seven stories of violence, aging, jealousy, arrogance, friendship, love, and romance. There is always a twist in the end. Seven days gone bad makes for...
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